Japan's Wisteria Tunnels Are Even More Magical Than Its Cherry Blossoms

Every spring, travelers from around the world visit Japan to see the country's cherry blossoms, but the season also brings several other stunning blooms to admire.

Wisteria, known as fuji in Japanese, may only be the country's second most famous flower, but thanks to their flexible branches, they can be turned into large tunnels dripping with blue, pink, purple, and white flowers. Strolling through the kaleidoscopic spectacle is magical for visitors.

While peak blooming periods can vary depending on the temperature and location, lucky visitors may be able to catch Japan's cherry blossoms and wisteria blooms in one trip. Wisteria typically bloom around late April and early May, with slight variations depending on the type.

Planning a flower-filled spring trip to Japan? Here's where to find the most stunning wisteria.

Ashikaga Flower Park

Ashikaga Flower Park is the only location in Japan with a Kibana wisteria tunnel visitors can walk underneath. It's home to more than 350 different wisteria trees — including a celebrated Great Wisteria over 150 years old — that bloom in colors ranging from violet to pinks, purple, white, and bright yellow. The park also has more than 5,000 azalea bushes that can be admired around the same time.

See the wisteria between mid-April and mid-May, with admission ranging from 900 to 2,100 yen (about $6 to $14) for adults and between 400 and 1,100 yen (about $3 to $7) for children, depending on the day of the visit.

Visitors can also head to the park in the evening to see the wisteria lit up at night, making for a striking view. You can even sample wisteria-themed soft serve and goodies while at the park.

Kawachi Wisteria Garden

Another popular tunnel is at the Kawachi Wisteria Garden in Kitakyushu. The park is home to 22 different kinds of wisteria that bloom and peak from the end of April through mid-May. Its two tunnels meet to form a large dome, creating a sea of colors to walk beneath. Adult tickets cost between 500 and 1,500 yen ($3 to $10) each, depending on the day, and each adult can bring two kids for free.

The park is also popular in the fall, when maple trees and autumn leaves create magnificent foliage on its grounds.

Tennogawa Park

For prime wisteria viewing without an admission fee, head to a public green space like Tennogawa Park in Tsushima, Aichi Prefecture. From the end of April to early May, the park hosts the Owari Tsushima Wisteria Festival, celebrating the short blooming period with food stalls and performances. After dark, the trellises are lit up for an even more enchanting experience.

Shirai Oomachi Fuji Park

Shirai Oomachi Fuji Park sits on the slope of a mountain in the Hyōgo Prefecture of Japan's Kansai region. It has one of the biggest wisteria trellises in the region, at 1,640 feet long and 13 feet wide. When the valley catches a breeze, the pink, purple, and white flowers sway gently, creating a whimsical scene. Whereas most wisteria festivals across Japan kick off around late April, these wisteria tend to bloom later, around early May. The park is also known for its daffodil displays. Admission usually costs 500 yen (about $3).

Kameido Tenjin Shrine

Even the country's temples and shrines debut these colorful displays in the spring. Tokyo's Kameido Tenjin Shrine is a popular destination for viewing lavender-colored wisteria raining down in bunches. The trellises hang over a pond that reflects the colorful scene.

The wisteria here were planted during the Edo period (1603 to 1867) and continue to attract locals and visitors today. The Kameido Tenjin Shrine Wisteria Festival typically runs from mid-April through the end of the month and is free to attend.

Byodoin Temple

In the Kyoto Prefecture, you can catch wisteria blooming at the Byodoin Temple. Located in Uji, the temple has multiple wisteria trellises, some of which are said to date back to the mid-18th century. The plants here grow up to three feet long and pop between mid-April and early May. Byodoin Temple is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto UNESCO World Heritage Site, designated in 1994.

Other Places to See Wisteria Around the World

You don't have to travel all the way to Japan to witness the phenomenon. The flowers bloom in the U.S., too, notably at Pennsylvania's Longwood Gardens and in New York City's Central Park. The Argory estate in Northern Ireland and the gardens of the Great Fosters Hotel in Surrey, England, are also known to offer lovely wisteria views.

And if you do make it to Japan to catch the wisteria blooms this spring, consider also checking out the Fuji Shibazakura Festival. From mid-April to late May, the foot of Mount Fuji is adorned with more than 500,000 shibazakura (a type of flowering moss) that blanket the ground in pink, purple, and white.